UnitedPeoplehttp://unitedpeople.ie
The Improvement MovementTue, 29 Jan 2019 12:47:27 +0000en-US
hourly
1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3http://unitedpeople.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-NewUPLogo4-2-32x32.jpgUnitedPeoplehttp://unitedpeople.ie
3232Public Services Card – Why The Secrecy?http://unitedpeople.ie/2019/01/28/public-services-card-why-the-secrecy/
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:29:23 +0000http://unitedpeople.ie/?p=1869The Fine Gael/Fianna Fail backed government is continuing to keep secret the outcome of the Public Services Card (PSC) inquiry that has concluded. The results of quiet investigations has culminated in the creating of a report.

Under normal circumstances such reports are then made available to the pubic. This is done because in part, the people investigating such a matter are paid by public money and the item being checked up on, has also come about due to taxpayer money being poured into it also.

When it comes to the Public Service Card however, Fine Gael has decided to keep everything further secret. The Irish Council For Civil Liberties, like UnitedPeople, called for committee findings to be released. The likelihood of this actually fully occurring are in fact, little to no chance of happening.

Taxpayers aware of the latest state cover-up, have asked “Why?“. To answer that question, we need to go back to the start – it’s invention.

The National I.D. Card In All But Name.
Previous related item – click HERE

Genesis.

The PSC was shoved down the throats of the public in 2012. It has subsequently become a requirement when applying for a driver theory test or a first-time passport, as well as social welfare payments. The card is seen by many as a national identity card by many – but the government cannot legally introduce such a thing by name – but coincidentally, they have come up with the PSC that now incorporates many same aspects.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has previously expressed “grave concerns” over the use of the PSC – something they too said should be abandoned. ICCL executive director Liam Herrick is on record stating the card should be suspended until an investigation is carried out by the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC). In reality, the Data Protection Office here too (like data transfer issues connected to the Post Office and JobPath private companies) has proven to be useless. It appears the Data Protection Office is once again unwilling to bite a hand (the government) that financially feeds it. Asking the Data Protection Office – to give clear cut Yes/No answers or to do something firm – has been seen to be a waste of many people’s time.

There has been a number of legal cases instigated over the introduction and use of the card, already. In 2017 for example, a woman had her State pension cut after refusing to register for the card last year. It was then legal discovered that this was done wrongly and in fact, her legal rights were infringed. Has the state not backed down, a European Court of Human Rights might have been called upon to give a ruling – thus setting a clear legal precedent. This is something Fine Gael definitely do NOT want – been officially found guilty of creating something that they could then be sued over by many people across Ireland. Therein lies ‘the rub’.

Why The State Imposed Secrecy?

Short version: Fine Gael and its backers Fianna Fail (who again, have stood by this crap also and said/done nothing in opposition) know that the state could be sued by THREE MILLION of Ireland’s citizens (see links at bottom of page). Take note of all the other parties that have been too quiet on this issue also. They too, are keeping their heads down.

If Fine Gael and it’s backers have nothing to fear from, why would they then hide a state report away from their employers – the taxpayers of Ireland?

Simon McGarr – Data Compliance Europe

More Details.

Mr. Simon Garr, who works with Dublin-based law firm Data Compliance Europe, has stated the expansion of the card was a major financial risk to the State.

“All Irish legislation lives under the shadow of European law. There is a significant uncrystallised liability.” LINK

However, a spokesman for the Social Protection Department, which issues the cards, has stated:

‘The department does not accept Mr McGarr’s contention. We are satisfied that there is a comprehensive legal basis in place for registering people’s identity and for the sharing of that identity data with specified public bodies.“

They would, of course, say this. They are not bothering to inform the citizens of Ireland about the European Court of Justice “Bara” legal case. In the Bara case, there was a ruling concerning the transfer and usage of EU citizens data – a ruling that legally conflicts what the Fine Gael government is continuing to do – what the Social Protection Department is also continuing to do in conflict with the ECJ ruling also.

Take note, the same ruling also has further legal implications as the government continues to hand over peoples personal data (now their legal recognised “asset”) to private companies also, example; the JobPath setup.

On top of the ongoing apparent illegal data transfers and data usage by the government, is their next latest stunt they are quietly proposing to set up. They intent to try using PPS numbers (found on those cards) as a method to identify people as they go to vote.

….”But hang on a minute! The government has said it’s not an identity card!”

That’s right – but you are not supposed to kop this next dose of double-standards from Fine Gael.

Another underhand trick that could be additionally infringing your constitutional legal rights? By using your PPS number also to vote, they then might know who has voted (or not), what areas are in their favour (or not) and from all this and more, their can through “data mining” of “Big Data” be able to then tweak their political message to something that suits a particular area rather than a whole country gaining the same message.

This in marketing terms is called “Micro-marketing” (in other words, telling you more exactly what you want to hear). It just doesn’t have to be true or accurate! Just better PR spun. Sound familiar?

It Gets Better – Or Worse?

Taking into account the Bara case occurred in 2015, its is now January 2019. In the last five years alone, people’s personal data – their legal asset – has been given shared 92,000+ times. Yes, that number is correct – LINK. Let’s be clear here. The Bara ruling was long but in short : “Even when there is a legal basis for data sharing, it is necessary that people know that sharing will take place before it happens.”

This has not been happening. Fine Gael and more know of this ruling – but are ignoring it completely. They have even tried to create further laws at home, that conflicts with this ruling and with EU created GDPR legislation – which the Fine Gael government is also ignoring when it suits their own self-adopted agenda. No – you are not being told all this by Fine Gael (or its backers) either. This too has been hushed up as best possible.

They are also not telling you that State agencies have made more than 1,250 disclosure requests to access people’s private online information from internet companies over the last five years. LINK

Back To The PSC.

We now know that the government is not going to share the Data Protection Commissioner’s full report on the investigation into the legality of the Public Services Card. What the public will get, is a edited, redacted version of it – maybe – if lucky – sometime in the possible future!

Why redacted/edited? The last thing Fine Gael wants going out into the public domain is any report that states within it openly or by hint, the government has not only brought in something that is possible illegal in Irish and EU law – but that by ramming it down citizens throats against their very agreement, is further law breaking through acts of coercion, threats with financial (withdrawal) menaces and further infringes peoples rights within the agreed to, European Charter of Human Rights.

Any such full report that states this or alludes to it, Fine Gael (and others?) sure as hell don’t want getting into the hands of the public. In public hands it can be used as evidence.

In short – to repeat above – Fine Gael and its backers Fianna Fail (who again, have stood by this crap also and said/done nothing in opposition) know that the state could be sued by THREE MILLION of Ireland’s citizens. That is why, we conclude, more secrets are being kept from the employers of elected. Elected don’t want their employers to know, employees have broken not just Irish law but international law on a grand scale – and can be massed sued for it.

That’s before we even get to a knock-on, general election aspect also!

If a true full honest report on the PSC issues was to be able produced in a highcourt, the Fine Gael government would be up the proverbial creek – big time!

]]>The JobPath Scandal That Fine Gael is Trying To Bury.http://unitedpeople.ie/2019/01/17/the-jobpath-scandal-that-fine-gael-is-trying-to-bury/
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:00:51 +0000http://unitedpeople.ie/?p=1707As many of UnitedPeople members and supporters all around Ireland already know, the party has been investigating the state JobPath setup for three years now. Why? Because many people have come to us after having been treated terribly by the state and the companies involved. Details on that whole topic can be greater found HERE.

After three years and much public lobbying – including by victims – TD’s on a Dail committee tasked with looking into state operations, asked that Jeff Rudd and Damien Fagan attend a January 17th Dail meeting and tell not only of their experiences but of that they have found over the previous years. Below is some of those findings in document form. All are free to download.

UnitedPeople have produced two previous reports. Each of version of these was already passed on to every TD by email. Only one got back to us in those two years, to her credit. Brid Smith. The rest – ignored many victims completely or gave them lip service and then did no more. Some victims came direct to UnitedPeople – and we did something.

We still are.

.

There has been much law breaking within JobPath and by a state department backing it. The Fine Gael government is keeping it hushed up as how they are breaking laws and regulation they, themselves, even wrote. In PR it is all meant to look good. Maybe it’s what the government does best! Behind the scenes that a nation of people are not meant to discover, is a whole lot of recent and ongoing state abuses. Some media including RTE who have been informed this is going on, have repeatedly declined to expose the truth. Such is the apparent government ability to influence what exactly the people are told (or not) on their six or nine o’clock news!

The price of investigating and speaking up about such matters and more, has been heavy to those trying to get the truth out. From being followed across the country, possible multiple phone bugged, photographed multiple times, computers hacked, websites hacked, a home under attack from multiple thrown objects, broken windows and even an attempted assault, trying to to the right thing for the people of Ireland has never been easy for members of UnitedPeople. All, who have themselves, acted only within the law and by professional means.

We start off just below with an audio recording. It is one very simple example. As you will later read in detailed evidence, thing have gotten far worse – and it’s all been deliberate state buried so far.

.

.
Your right NOT to be forced into a
private contract with a private company..

If you have not see the below before, please read it.

.

In other words, there is NO legal legislation anywhere that allows by law, a person to be cut down or off their benefits because they reserve their legal right not to be forced into a private contract. This is very important to remember as you listen to the following conversation. NOTE: The voices have been tone changed to protect identites.

This is a recording of a member of JobPath company member lecturing a citizen. The citizen wishes to retain his legal right NOT to be forced to sign a private contract.

“…Making issues about training… They want to do training. They don’t want to do this, they don’t want to do that…” – Translated: How dare people try and seek their own aims or training that might better suit them! They are going to be told by the state and a private company its hired, what their life aims are – if they like it or not! Shut up – roll over please. When they say ‘jump‘, you ask “How high?” You are not allowed challange this!

“It’s an obligation for you.” – Really? That’s NOT what was stated under sworn oath, in given up evidence, to a Dublin highcourt judge in late 2017 by the Dept’ of Social Protection & Seetec. Citizen: Damien Fagan.

“If you care not to sign it or agree it, that’s an issue then, and the consequences of that is penalty rate and payment suspension” – So, lets be clear here. They are going to apply a particular punishment that has NOlegal basis whatsoever in any legislation – not even in the Social Welfare Acts 2005/2010.
.
When people do something that is not within Irish laws but outside them – that is usually called “Breaking the law” to the rest of us. The rest of us end up getting arrested for it.
.This, they have been mass doing. Yes – mass breaking the law, depriving people already down on life’s luck and illegal seeing to it that that even basic money to try live, is stolen off them. Local dole offices around the country have been turning a blind eye to this massive law breaking.
.…You and everyone else is not supposed to know all this – and far more as you will read below.

]]>December News Clipshttp://unitedpeople.ie/2018/12/21/news-clips-dec/
Fri, 21 Dec 2018 22:47:21 +0000http://unitedpeople.ie/?p=1675“Homelessness” in Irish legislation.
.
The current defined Dail definition of homelessness in Ireland is 30 years old and says that it is someone that has no accommodation that can be reasonably occupied. The current government using this old definition does NOT take into account people that ask friends to put them on the likes of their sofa or many living on our streets.
.
Being homelessness is also defined as living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other institutions because there is nowhere else to go. As the national numbers even using the old, current definition crept up to the 10,000 level, Dublin City Council tried getting creative with their method of accounting the numbers. Their excuse was that many were ‘gaming’ the system – a damning incitement dished out on many with an automatic too wide, insulting brush.
.
It’s understand able that FG and it’s enablers don’t want to change the current definition – even though some of it’s more honest members think that it should. The last thing FG top heads and other old parties wants, is to update the old definition – which would them expose to being even more useless in the face of higher “homelessness” numbers.
.
To be more accurate and truthful however, the 30 year definition MUST be updated. It must take into account modern ongoing situations. Sadly, accuracy and truth have yet to become a thing FG and it’s backers have yet to instigate fully. So, the political fudging of numbers continues. Of course, like many things before we write about – you are not supposed to be aware of all this and guess what media is not telling you, yet again!

.

Rome Ducking.

Speaking of ducking financial amounts (see my previous post) It seems the Roman Catholic Church is yet again at it also – and yet again, the government is likely to let them get away with it.

What now? The Vatican with it’s conservative €7 Billion of physical assets has ducked a recommendation that it could pay for the Mother and Baby Homes scandal.
.
The Vatican reply? “We will pray on it.” We kid you not.
.
While excavating the Tuam site with its 800 babies bodies, the state (taxpayer – you) will be left again with the bill due to others antics. You are getting used to payíng for others antics too, aren’t you! After all, this is Ireland!
.
The bill? Currently assessed to be between €6 to 13 Million Euro. Never mind, the Vatican will be contributing by saying a prayer. All is good.

.

.

True Accountability?

It went missed by 95% of Irish citizens this Month. It was meant to? What was it? A report on the presidents spending for the last term. Supposedly 51 pages of a report. Before you say “Wow, 51 pages! Finally we have some truth and transparency” – maybe you should actually look at a copy of the report.
.
The report actually had in it 60 different pictures of Higgins. It has two pages of it dedicated to “Commemorative Art” – and finally, three pages were the actual financial report. Fine Gael, the masters of PR spin and wasteful expensive promotions for which they get the taxpayer to pay for, have been at it yet again.
.
…But no – the government station RTE and it’s ever biased media have once again neglected to tell the nation the full truth. You’re getting used to it, aren’t you!
.
P.S. There was in many cases within the three pages, no actually breakdown on many items. Just large numbers under various wide categories. FG can’t be actually giving the public better accurate information. No sir!
.
True Accountability? Over to you…

]]>Fianna Fail Members Are Not Happy At Allhttp://unitedpeople.ie/2018/12/21/fianna-fail-members-are-not-happy-at-all/
Fri, 21 Dec 2018 21:23:23 +0000http://unitedpeople.ie/?p=1680UnitedPeople has previously exposed how an increasing unrest, a division in Fianna Fail is growing at local levels around the country and even higher. We have known this for quite some time due to FF members coming to UP members quietly expressing their anger and frustration – besides a growing sense of betrayal.

It all centers around FF top heads once again agreeing (news LINK) to prop up their foe, FG. In PR for those willing to swallow it, they say its in the national interest – while quiet telling FF members that top heads are just waiting for FG to trip up badly. They are being left waiting yet again.

In the quiet background, everyone but dogs on the street know that if a general election was called tomorrow, the likelihood would be that FF would lose seats rather than gain – and Michael Martin knows this.
.
What we wrote previously due to our sources, the Phoenix magazine now agrees with UnitedPeople it seems. In an article by the magazine (LINK) entitled “MICHEÁL MARTIN’S MUTINOUS MEMBERS” it is even more becoming that unrest is further growing within the mainstream, already part fragmented party.

In truth however, it’s becoming more publicly obvious. The man/woman on the street is increasingly speaking how FF has lost its own identity and is now just the same as FG – and just as rotten. The lower, local ranks are also hearing this at an increasing rate and are not happy about it.
.
They are certainly not happy that top heads of FF again, have agreed to jump into a FG bed where they are gaining nothing but losing even more support for doing it.
.
It all adds to the leader of FF being ousted sooner or later. The Phoenix magazine now shouts out a few names that might lead the charge. One thing is for sure, Michael Martin’s time at the top, is looking to be drawing closer to an end. Many say “Not soon enough!” – and that’s just in the lower ranks of FF.

Last week we wrote about how an increasing unrest, a division in Fianna Fail is growing at local levels around the country and even higher. We have known this for quite some time due to FF members coming to me quietly expressing their anger and frustration – besides a growing sense of betrayal.
.
It all centers around FF top heads once again agreeing to prop up their foe, FG. In PR for those willing to swallow it, they say its in the national interest – while quiet telling FF members that top heads are just waiting for FG to trip up badly. They are being left waiting yet again.
.
In the quiet background, everyone but dogs on the street know that if a general election was called tomorrow, the likelihood would be that FF would lose seats rather than gain – and Michael Martin knows this..
.
What we wrote previously due to our sources, the Phoenix magazine now agrees, it appears. See news link above.

.
In truth however, it’s becoming more publicly obvious. The man/woman on the street is increasingly speaking how FF has lost its own identity and is now just the same as FG – and just as rotten. The lower, local ranks are also hearing this at an increasing rate and are not happy about it.
.
They are certainly not happy that top heads of FF again, have agreed to jump into a FG bed where they are gaining nothing but losing even more support for doing it.
.
It all adds to the leader of FF being ousted sooner or later. The Phoenix magazine now shouts out a few names that might lead the charge. One thing is for sure, Michael Martin’s time at the top, is looking to be drawing closer to an end. Many say “Not soon enough!” – and that’s just in the lower ranks of FF.

The more shrewd of Ireland will have long recognised that the current, long, ongoing shortage of affordable housing – or lack of any accommodation available – has not just caused the numbers of homeless to rise but also affected more. One of these additional aspects involves companies looking to start-up in Ireland or come into Ireland as a workable European base..
Many big and medium sized multinational companies have expressed their frustration also at the still growing crises. Their concern is not unfounded. They speaking to other business friends in Ireland, are being told that setups already here are having serious staff problems. The staff problems stem from available staff existing – but unable to find affordable or any accommodation near the place of employment they are invited to come work for..
This has become a major problem for companies. Existing staff or sought staff, cannot find a home. Certainly not one they can afford. As much as they would like to take up an offered job role, finding living quarters near to that work placement has become a dramatic local and national crises also..
The IDA is very much aware of this problem. In order to try still attract business to Ireland however, they have adopted a different PR approach (rather than openly tell FG to get their finger out and do better). Executives from the IDA are reportedly being advised (by guess who) to say that the country’s housing shortage was “not unique to Ireland” in issued guidance documents..
The investment agency has apparently drawn up answers for staff, on what to say when issues around rising property prices, spiraling rents, and homelessness came up for discussion. The IDA is in fact thinking that giving international price comparisons will help spin things in its favour..
On the local ground around Ireland, the IDA’s PR spinning is having little affect. Wannabe incoming companies are still seeing that little or no accommodation is available. All the PR pitches of international comparisons is not going to change that fact..
The housing crises while extremely important to those sleeping rough, is also important to Irish business, thus tax take, etc. A further long term, additional ‘bigger picture’. In other words, to our national economy. This is why in part, people such myself and others continue to advocate for a new government building program. A national construction company (which would also create employment and new apprentice opportunities) is one additional possible solution..
Rent control zones with by-laws that landlords are running legal rings around and laughing at (example: they re-classify rent increases as new additional add-on charges), are not helping at all, in many cases. Companies looking at Ireland are increasing not swallowing the empty PR spin that they are “committed to meeting the demand” for new housing..
FG relying on private building contractors and also spinning their construction numbers, as supposed overall state built numbers, is rightly not being accepted as the full accurate truth about the current Irish housing crises. In short, the IDA and FG is fooling very few. The long term affect of all this will be on the national economy again. Again, it will reach down to local levels. In fact, it already is..
State media and biased supporters who have their own media outlets, are being careful to not report much of this.

The events in Roscommon in the last week are in truth, one more unfortunate event in a line of many previous to it. Irish rural communities have increasingly become left isolated and abandoned by their elected, those that are supposed to protect them and they feel their way of life has increasingly come under threat.

.

At times, though it’s rarely reported on a national level on RTE news etc, rural crimes committed on businesses and families including local farms have over time become more sadly common. More people in rural Ireland are seeing their local services being stripped away. They are seeing bus routes closed down. Post offices closed down. Garda stations closed down. They are again seeing a youth exodus. Along the West coast, additional fishing communities are again being further hard hit as the EU is imposing increasing catch restrictions while Irish elected it is felt, is not protecting them or standing up for their rights.

.

Add to this abandonment, the continuing complete balls-up Fine Gael has made of getting any decent broadband to many rural areas, many in such locations have made it clear they have had more than enough. Fine Gael was founded with a background of rural farming support. Many times the party has tried to varying degrees of success, by financial inducements and other political promises, to maintain and increase that ground base of voters.

.

To try shore up that now weakening support, Fine Gael has promised to roll out an additional €1bn for a Rural Regeneration and Development Fund Scheme, over the period 2019 to 2027. The fund they claim, will provide investment to support rural renewal for suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. That’s the sales pitch.

.

In other words to the wise, persuasion tactics to keep voting Fine Gael back and this might come in the future, or be continued once it starts. Many see it as the same old practiced way of ‘buying votes’.

.

When it comes to the repossessions of rural properties, they appear to be on the increase in part due to the banks (KBC leading the charge) and vulture funds being able to operate at will, despite weak legislation in place by poor elected representation. People from rural communities feeling abandoned, have begun gathering together themselves and forming protesting groups or groups to protect themselves from invading back hired goons. FG say that these groups are militant based. In some cases, there might some truth in some cases but in most cases, it’s just genuine people standing up after saying to themselves “Enough is enough!

.

When on one hand, Garda stand back and watch assaults take place in front of their eyes – and do nothing – then people retort against invading thugs and Garda only move then to protect such thugs, rural Ireland has come to the conclusion, it has indeed had enough!

.

.

With little or poor protection coming from the state and its elected, its been left for the people to make a stand for themselves. This is a situation created in large part by the government, in particular Fine Gael and its elected at national and local level – but not just them alone.

.

Many of them are not willing to admit any or all of this so they try to incorrectly portray people from rural communities as being all part of a ‘fringe’, a paramilitary group or some other classification which they hope to use in order to make people seen standing up and protesting, as being in a bad light.

.

UPDATE:Confirmation ex-UK military being used to evict Irish citizens. LINK
Irish elected quick to condemn own citizens but all too silent over this issue.

One of the many things we regular report on, is the continuous under undermining of our national fishing industry. The latest attack on it, once again is coming from a now normal location the EU. This time the EU wishes to impose even more restrictions on that fishermen of Ireland can catch and bring home. On top of previous multiple catch cuts, the EU wants to slap an additional 58% cot to cod, 14% cut to haddock and 32% cut to our prawn catch. As some would be aware, after mackerel, prawns are the most economically valuable regarding opportunity of fishing profitability.

Even more debatable, is the EU now wanting to impose a new ‘discards’ ban. This would prohibit fishermen from throwing back unwanted parts of a catch that are no use to them. The EU wish to stop this throw back and have that additional wastage added to a fisherman’s overall catch quota.

Even the rare TD that speaks on this matter, not public wishing to be seen condemning the EU, admits that in 2019 the Irish fishing industry is now even further under attack by the EU. Fine Gael has already agreed to give away fishermen quota sizes in regard to mackerel, blue whiting and sea herring. Now things are about to get far worse. Home elected are allowing the EU to roll out more imposed changes within the fishing industry of Ireland that see again see it undermined and weakened.

The latest published news (by mostly non-Ireland owned media) that more deaths of citizens might have been saved or their passing delayed, comes on the back of the previous cervical cancer scandal (LINK). Currently Fine Gael and it’s enablers are deliberately trying to avoid further public discussion or debate on the issue. TD’s of Fine Gael and other parties are again, like many other issues, trying desperately to downplay the latest deaths that reportedly have been caused in part, because someone once again failed in their job.

As many citizens know – from being unwilling to swallow just the government station news output – the latest government of Fine Gael and it’s enablers once again refuse to do accountability. University Hospital in Kerry has become the latest location where it’s been discovered standards have again failed and sadly, deaths appear to have resulted from this. While ongoing inquiries might later be held, again it’s highly unlikely that anyone will be held to account for this next latest mishap. An additional sad truth is that in Ireland, accountability does not happen as it should.

The current Fine Gael government hard trying to move on from the previous cervical scandal, have been avoiding holding to courtroom account anyone responsible for the previous major medical reports mishaps. The American testing company at the center of that previous cancer scandal, have yet too be held to courtroom account and no one individual within it, is not likely to be arrested or questioned either.

The message is clear again. Fine Gael and it’s backers don’t do accountability the way it should be done – as it is done for along time in other countries.

Public awareness about this factor has been kept deliberate low by Irish media once again. After an all too brief period of a few Irish based media outlets light reporting on the latest Kerry cancer scandal (LINK), many of them were quick to move on and drop further discussion, investigation or ask why isn’t anyone being held to account? Topic dropped – again.

A further question remains. If this has happened in one location, how many others so far have escaped being discovered as having made their own mistakes and have been further allowed get away without any accountability. So far the number of deaths which might have been prevented or delayed from cancer grows higher. So far where someone, a hospital or a business should be held to greater account, they are not – again.

A true shocking fact is that Ireland doesn’t do true, transparent accountability under any government formed by the old traditional political parties. Some Independents, once they too have gained high paid, perked and pensioned government positions, also appear not willing to further pursue such matters in the Dail or though a national discussion with Ireland’s public. Topic dropped.

Such is the still unwillingness of staff in the top ranks of medical fraternity, to report on mistakes by others they know of, Irish patent medical reports – ones not found to have often gone conveniently ‘missing’ – still have to be sent to England on a regular basis, for re-examination/review. Irish specialists and doctors are refusing to disclose much of what they know is in people’s medical reports, for fear of exposing a fellow practitioner, or they refuse to disclose to citizens that something has been misdiagnosed, left out of medical reports – or was put in and the ill person concerned, was not informed.

Vicky Phelan’s situation is a case in point. It was only by accidentally gaining an opportunity to read her own fuller medical documents that she discovered facts which her doctors and specialists had not told her – but was down on paper record for some time. Again, so far no one person has been held to account for this either. Topic dropped.

There are be no doubts to many in Ireland. Medical cover-ups in Ireland continue, along with payoffs and non-disclosure agreements. Sadly, with the standard old political parties, very few, if any, will be held to Garda investigation account. Files will go missing. Important pages will vanish. Phones and their own records will be lost! Topics dropped.

Shocking Facts.

Ireland has the third highest rate of cancer in the world – ranked only behind Australia and New Zealand, according to a global report. LINK

Heart disease and cancer are the most common causes of deaths in Ireland. LINK

According to analysis from researchers at Imperial College London, Ireland will meet the target of reducing premature cancer deaths by a third in men by 2030, but won’t achieve that target in women until after 2040. LINK

These facts and much more, makes it vital that assigned staff and their defined responsibilities must be cleared laid out within their agreed working contracts and also within legal legislation that should be further created by any sitting government. Previous consecutive governments consisting of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Green Party and Labour have repeatedly failed to do this. Like legal avoiding what exactly is a “Public service” (important to the current buried JobPath ongoing scandal), a lot of state legislation that needs to be created or improved, is being avoided. Here too, public or TD conversations have been all too silent. Topic dropped.

Sadly, the current ongoing situations in Ireland are not likely to become overall resolved. Until more of the Irish public firstly becomes aware of what many an elected local or national representative, is hiding away from them – and then the outstanding improvements come about, the current Ireland situation where professionals are reactive to scandals rather than being more proactive in preventing them, is far likely to continue.

As long as media outlets continue to remain biased towards political parties that are being financially rewarded or its members have a too cosy, symbiotic benefiting relationship with media owners, such matters will repeatedly failed to be fully disclosed.

The end result of all this will see that accountability of those that should be held to account, will once again be allowed slip away. They likely allowed to slip quietly away with a nice exit payment and a massive pension to boot!

================

For the record: UnitedPeople is willing to address this continuing poor situation. We repeatedly raise the issue where others continue to decline to – and the very rare that do, then don’t follow their few words with positive action. The current status of poor accountability is not good enough. Too many lives are being lost and too many families across Ireland are being left suffering because of the unwillingness of others to act. Individually and collectively, we must do better. UnitedPeople is willing to have the discussion others are avoiding and they will not act upon.

]]>Unofficial Election PR Continues.http://unitedpeople.ie/2018/12/08/unofficial-election-pr-continues/
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 18:37:38 +0000http://unitedpeople.ie/?p=1603There can be no doubt now. All the mainstream parties are now in election mode. This week the master of Ireland political PR, Leo Varadkar, has been more busier than ever trying to be seen on location at various places including a school for young children.

The latest week of PR rollout continued on Friday with an appearance through the government TV station, RTE. Presenter Tubridy gave Varadkar the opportunity to smooth present himself to mass nation with a friendly, easy chat.

Leo Varadkar stands regular accused by others as often being more PR than actual substance. Certainly the leader has enough ready soundbites to go at any moments notice. He has been increasingly accused of being more style over actual substance – or real working, effective plans. PR is his game and he has a team still that does it well for him.

What the public are not supposed to remember is since Fine Gael got into government in 2011, and again in 2016, they have not only continued a complete and utter mess of issues such as housing, Brexit (they have no plans prepared for a hard exit) and the health service – they have in fact made things far, far worse.

…But in the new year there couls be a general election – a considered safe bet despite Fianna Fail agreeing to continue prop up their foe yet again – and some main parties have planned and pre-printed posters for it already. The master of spin is again out PR selling about marvelous great future plans. As they have done similar since 2011 – and people are completely expected yet again to swallow it all, again to believe it to be all true this time around.

The Late Late Advertiser.

Mr Varadkar’s appearance on the show didn’t go down well with some at all. The presenter of the show didn’t get off light either from criticism. Many viewers had a go at him for Mr Varadkar not having plausible answers. Also, many pointed out that the RTE host let him off far easier than he did Peter Casey, who was on the show in recent weeks.

The continued soundbite, polished image of Mr Varadkar however, continues to be put out there prior to the next 2019 general election. ….And still he won’t say anything about JobPath attempted suicides, the highcourt cases, the stealing, assaults, the abuses & more. LINK

When Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into his country embassy in Turkey, to gain paperwork that he thought was waiting for him, little did he know it was his last freedom steps in life.

This indeed, was what it was. Shortly thereafter, he was interrogated, murdered and body chopped up into parts. These parts were then taken out by a back exit route within a black van along with his interrogators and killers. The lot then boarded a private airfield where all would eventually travel back to Saudi Arabia.

The men that did this gruesome act, Saudi Arabia in quick excuse, has tried to pass off as “Tourists” and claimed had nothing to do with the then vanishing of a journalist. The fact that they spent more time traveling to and from from their home location to Turkey, than actually vising there and seeing any sights at all, exposes much. The fact that a majority so far, are provable state military and intelligence staff connected also leaves open questions – questions that Saudi Arabia is still unwilling to answer. The fact that they soon got out of the Saudi Arabia embassy and then Turkey itself, soon after the death of the journalist is also indicative of odd behavior. The ‘tourists’ flew in that morning and quickly, quietly left the same day.

Such high ranking officials and their military numbers involved in the murder, would have got their orders from someone above them. They just couldn’t all just up and go from their military jobs on a whim. Their absence from their own home based occupations would have stood out like a sore thumb if they just went “rouge“.

Soon after the killing of the Washington Post journalist, the Saudi Arabia government started off with their first lie stating that he had left the embassy. They persisted with this lie for some time. After that came their ‘tourist’ excuse for a bunch of military men, intelligence, interrogators and assistants turning up at the embassy just before Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia lies have been constant since then.

Their latest possible lie – after weeks of lies, was a final admission that had to be dragged out of them, was that he was actually killed during a fight (They won’t want his body turning up. That would expose the treatment he got and possible drugs in his system). Jamal Khashoggi, supposedly faced with 15 tough men in a confined room, is said by Pro-Saudi Arabia spokespeople, to have proceeded start a physical fistfight with them all! 15 men against one. You have to ask yourself, would you many seriously start a fight in those circumstances, expecting to win or even come out favorably against such a heavy intimidating, military presence?

The Murder Itself.

What we are more lead to believe through media leaks is that a recording which the Turkey government has, exposes Saudi Arabia agents grabbed him soon after he entered the embassy. They proceeded to interrogate him using various gruesome methods including cutting off his fingers one by one. They then beheaded him while he was still hanging on to life.

Sky News reports that a “very well placed” source says the embassy Consul General and Mr Khashoggi can be heard speaking in audio footage. After this, there was a “beating”, the source claimed, adding that the footage later revealed the reporter was “drugged” and “killed”. The killing is said to have taken seven agonising minutes. Members of the ‘hit squad’ reportedly listened to music through earphones as they dismembered their victim. Probably to drown out the victims screaming of pain. A Turkish source, who has allegedly listened to an audio clip of the incident, told Middle East Eye (MEE): “They had come to kill him.” It was claimed that Mr Khashoggi was dragged from the Consul General’s office into his study next door, where he was dumped on a table.

Loud screams could then be heard – which only stopped when he was injected with an unknown substance, according to the source. Moments later, his body was allegedly cut up – while he was still alive. Forensic evidence expert Salah Muhammad al-Tubaigy, dubbed ‘Dr Death’, has been identified by Turkey as a suspect in the killing along with others. The MEE was told that Tubaigy listened to music via earphones as he cut up the reporter’s body while he was still breathing. It was he who allegedly advised his accomplices to do the same.

“When I do this job, I listen to music. You should do [that] too,” Tubaigy could be heard saying in the recording. According to Yeni Safak (Turkish media), Mr Khashoggi was told to “shut up” at one point during his ordeal, which also allegedly saw his head ‘cut’.

Saudi Arabia’s Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi was reportedly heard telling the suspects: “Do this outside. You’re going to get me in trouble.” In response, one of the Saudi suspects allegedly replies: “Shut up if you want to live when you return to (Saudi) Arabia.“

Afterwards. The Clean Up.

When anyone attacks a journalist – especially one that’s been brutal tortured, drugged, chopped up and body parts sequestered away – other media journalists sometimes react worldwide, quickly and loudly. They do this in defense of the victims and their family. They do it also, knowing that if they don’t speak up now – who might be next?

When it became apparent that the embassy then had to allow some form of inspection – due to the worldwide media attention – where the murder took place, the Saudi state quickly got cleaners in to their embassy before any international or Turkish inspectors might arrive later. How good their clean-up job was, remains to be seen! The fact that a witnessed and recorded heavy cleaning crew would go in prior to an inspection, is damning in itself about the whole murdering, now international scandal.

======

The Murder Recording.

There are two versions of how the Turkish government got the recording of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.

1. The recording was gained through the use of an Apple watch that had that function. The microphone on it transferring the audio to an Apple cloud location that the Saudi’s later tried to hack into but couldn’t.

2. The Saudi Arabia embassy was bugged by the Turkey government.

How the recording was actually gained, the Turkey government is reluctant to make it public! There are a number of reasons for this.

1. The murderers on the recording might have orally exposed just how direct linked they were to the leader of the Saudi Arabia. Possibly acting on his very direct words?

2. Turkey gains financially from Saudi Arabia massively – as does the USA and the UK (as you shall read further down).

3. Turkey to some extent (obvious why) wants to remain cordial with Saudi Arabia in general – so their government has been very reluctant to come out and clear state that Saudi Arabia was a state that sent 15 men in with a pre-planned operation to deal with someone knowingly hated by a crown prince. It had to be pre-planned. 15 men of such official Saudi state background cannot just up and go, vanishing themselves from their home jobs – especially without state sanction or knowledge! They flew out the same day as the killing – after arriving with a bone saw with them for the purpose of cutting up Mr Khashoggi’s body.

4. Turkey doesn’t want to admit actually having bugged the embassy.

The Turkey government have been playing clever tactics. While not wishing to public saying who is ultimately responsible, through their state media, have applied pressure on Saudi Arabia to admit eventually what happened, even to some extent.

Who Is Ultimately Responsible For A Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder?

Last year, at age 31, Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s crown prince. He is next in lie to replace King Salman. While pushing for women to drive, it’s said to gain favourable good world PR, more quietly he has overseen the arrest of women’s rights activists who were actually asking for that right. In other words, one must not ask for better living conditions within the same state!

When it comes to PR efforts, Leo Varadkar could take lesson from the crown prince. The Prince has deliberate mixed with the business world, giving promises of an initial public offering for the state oil behemoth Saudi Arabian Oil, known as Saudi Aramco. He has been suggesting it would have a $2 trillion valuation. Stock markets around the world have pitched having the IPO on their exchanges, but it has been repeatedly delayed. The prince has traveled across America in other PR oppertunities, meeting leaders like former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, who actually owns the Washington Post that Jamal Khashoggi worked for.

Did the prince try to gently persuade the owner of the Washington Post, to reduce it’s reporting on his state, through such a meeting? We shall never likely fully know. What we do know is that since Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, the Washington Post has been deliberately trying to seek justice for what was done against one of their own staff. Completely understandable.

The crown prince also has imprisoned other Saudi businessmen, royals, and others in a sudden crackdown on supposed corruption. To outsiders, it appears to be more like the crown prince making clear who is in charge against some of the kingdom’s most powerful people – just in case they decide to later challenge anything his state does. The crown prince made sure that those he went after, were also heavy financially hit too.

The prince allegedly has already covert operated in other world states too. While continuing a grabbing of women’s rights activists, the state reportedly grabbed one woman who was in the neighboring United Arab Emirates.

Since the crown prince also became the Saudi defence minister from the age of 29, he has pursued a war in Yemen against Shi’ite rebels that began a month after he took the helm. His war still continues today. “War crimes” accusations have already begun to be spoken about in quiet corners of the world. To quote the Irish Examiner:

The UN estimates 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen’s conflict — activists say the number is far higher. It has exacerbated what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with hunger and cholera stalking civilians, worsened by the kingdom’s blockade of ports. (link)

When it comes to people criticising his state and possible rule, he stated “I don’t want to waste my time,” to Time magazine in a cover story this year. “I am young.” In other words, he will just get on with dealing with those that speak out, as quick as possible?

The man that is known to absolutely hate those speaking out against the state and himself – as Jamal Khashoggi has done previously – the man that is the states defense minister, who’s under-staff are accused in being involved in Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, the man that has admitted himself, will deal quickly with ‘problems’ that challenge himself or his state, stands ultimately accused of being the person where the ‘buck’ stops.

The New York Times, citing a person familiar with the Saudi plans, reported the crown prince had approved an interrogation or rendition of Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia.

The World Government Reaction.

Compared to when a number of alleged Russians were accused of attempting to poison two individuals on UK soil – and the subsequent eviction of many Russian embassy staff around the world as punishment for that by world states (including Ireland) – the world government reactions has been deliberately muted. This silence and inaction, is in marked contrast to the alleged poison attack in Salisbury last March. The out come of that being a rush to expel Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain and the EU.

When it comes to Ireland’s government reaction to the murder of a working USA journalist, we need only read the following:

“Twice in the last week Goldhawk (care of The Phoenix Magazine – link) inquired of the Department of foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) if Coveney had issued a statement about Khashoggi’s fate and both times the answer was ‘no’. Presumably, the notion of expelling a member of staff at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Embassy in Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2, is out of the question.”

So there you have it. A very odd double-standard state silence. Other governments around the world have been very quiet too. Had Jamal Khashoggi’s murders happen to be Russians, would they all still be so quiet?

For the record: According to the UN COMTRADE data base, Irish exports to Saudi Arabia last year were worth $794.82m (or €683.55m) last year. The Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce says that Saudi Arabia is the third-largest non-EU destination for Irish agri-food exports, behind China and the US.

President Trump in the USA however, has been at least speaking up – even if his efforts have been all over the place in message! His obvious attempts to try getting blame not put on Saudi Arabia have at best been farcical and at worse, a clear use of one excuse or another, as to protect America’s financial interests. It is widely know that president Trump’s own son has considerable direct connections to the crown prince. They have met a number of times.

At first Trump tried to deny the Saudi state was at all involved. Then Trump, in order to try create some separation between those at the top and the actual murders, came up with the “rogue killers” excuse. As more and more information is becoming apparent regarding the journalists death, Trump is only now facing having to deal with Saudi Arabia. Anything he does, will be done reluctantly. The Arab State is worth big ‘bucks’ to America. Trump also being a business man prior to his current office – and will again be one after he leaves it – is very much aware of not wishing to burn his own potential financial bridges to the Arab worl,d where Saudi Arabia will have additional massive influence.

Trump made his first foreign trip as president to Saudi Arabia in May 2017. During this trip, he reportedly struck a bargain with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Trump wouldn’t lecture his kingdom on human rights, and Saudi Arabia would buy more American weapons. White House silence attempted to be bought or at least reduced. The deal seems to be very much working in Saudi Arabia’s favour this time around.

American businesses make serious money from the Arab state. To quote The Conversation (link):

Saudi Arabia spent US$69.4 billion on military expenditures in 2017, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the world’s leading research organization on conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Only the U.S. and China spent more. …But since it doesn’t have an arms industry – like the U.S. and China – Saudi Arabia must import most of that from other countries. That’s why, over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has imported more armaments than every country but India. And U.S. companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have benefited most from all that spending, making up the 55 percent of its weapons imports from 2008 to 2017.

U.S. is biggest Saudi supplier

U.S. defense contractors have made almost $90 billion selling arms to Saudi Arabia since 1950.Additional LINK.

Why the USA, in particular the White House, does not want to anger Saudi Arabia is very financially obvious! When it comes to private and state American business gains over morality and real justice, it appears that money wins again.

Why Is This Murder Such A Big Thing?

The realty is that it exposes what direction an Arab state might be further heading in. A seriously worrying direction.

The reality is that the crown prince will in time rule over Saudi Arabia for the next potential 50 years. This will give one man a massive choke-hold on the world’s oil supply. If anyone doesn’t like what he does, what he says, where he operates and more – they can basically all go to hell!

His ability to sway people and states is apparently already obvious and this is before he’s even gained in the current Suadi Arabia game of thrones, to the top position coming. Another possible truth is that other world states are closed door scared to stand up and to the right thing, to challenge what is already going on and what might happen in the future – or they might individually or collectively suffer far reaching consequences.

If history has taught the world anything, it is that when one person has so much massive power, it never ends well. Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman will possibly soon have that power. The current unwell king cannot last much longer in terms of years. When Mohammed bin Salman takes over, world leaders will quietly shudder a little bit more. A single big grip on world economies will grow and one person already being questioned about his state public and covert activities, will be even more untouchable and even less public criticised for what he dreadfully might get up to.

If such a state or person decides more to do as it sees fit, what or who else will ultimately be able to say “stop!” Meanwhile, other world states make their money while they can, while also pulling their political criticism punches and reacting different though more exhibitions of international double-standards.

End Result.

World governments are now looking for some half reasonable excuse they can equally use, in order to still justify the continuation of any links to the incoming new ruler. Leading the charge in excuses to be used, is the current White House and president Trump. There will be well practiced methods used to set some distance between the murderers and any possible connection with the incoming leader of Saudi Arabia.

Already the US government is trying to now slur a dead man by inventing absolute stupid allegations about the well international renowned journalist, in desperate attempt to try muddy the murdering waters. This is the same US state that if anyone is even considered a threat to it, is renditioned (illegal kidnapped) off to ‘Gitmo’ before they have a chance to say “I’m innocent” or have a trial. The President of the United States of America not surprisingly says the Saudi explanation of events is credible. Seriously? Is the world supposed to be that stupid in acceptance? Trump by his considered child-like daft Twitter utterances, again further becomes a laughing stock on the world stage.

…Meanwhile, the gutter, double-standard political antics continue. All in the name of profit over real justice.

======

This article is dedicated to the memory of Jamal Khashoggi.May he rest in peace.

]]>http://unitedpeople.ie/2018/10/20/murder-of-a-journalist-worldwide-double-standards/feed/0School Costs – Still A Substantial Issue. Why?http://unitedpeople.ie/2018/08/01/school-costs-still-a-substantial-issue-why/
Wed, 01 Aug 2018 08:42:27 +0000http://unitedpeople.ie/?p=1257If there is one thing that UnitedPeople will always attempt to do, it’s that we give things to you straight! We again attempt to do so here.

Since UnitedPeople was official created, it has consistently sought better answers and solutions to a number of issues. One of these all the time, has been about the costs surrounding primary and secondary education on parents and guardians, etc. We would like to say that the public can finally, in any way, put this yearly problem behind them. Sadly that is still not the case.

We are entering that yearly brief period where some elected will mention:

“The cost for parents to send their child to school these days, is just crazy!“

Stressed Parents

They would be indeed right to say this. Sadly we have to report that we are entering a period when after saying something like this, they vanish on the issue.

To acerbate the overall issue, soon after many say this, they will quickly drop the whole issue once the school terms have started. Elected move on to another issue they can try make themselves appear to be addressing – something that will hopefully resonate with the public, thus gaining them more popularity or at least hold on to their present support base. Meanwhile, the previous issue goes largely unaddressed.

This is what is happening again this year. We have reported both of these matters last year and throughout the year. The issue of costs (especially books as you will soon see) and the dropping of the issue by elected soon after, keeps reoccurring.

Before we move on to the main issue itself. One more thing to note. While some elected do raise the issue annually – for which we should be grateful for at least – before they do move on – other elected don’t bother at all to address the yearly issue. Is this because they don’t want to be caught by the public raising an issue and then be seen to leave it unaddressed? Is it because the matter might be a conflict of interest with themselves, family or other business relationships? They are not saying. The public and good journalists needs to dig deeper!

.
“Free Education”

The words “free education” when quoted by politicians and mainstream elected, is to many parents (a) an insult to civilians intelligence and (b) a slap in the face to actual reality in Ireland. Take for example, this lady speaking about her situation:

This become an all too common situation in many schools, in every town and city right across the country. Local and national elected know this is going no – but very few will say anything at all. Even less will go to the bother of practical doing something to address the situation. When was the last time you heard or read about your local or national elected going to a local place of education or a education headquarters, to resolve what is going on yearly?

Now that many schools are introducing the use of expensive iPads, companies involved won’t allow parents to buy secondhand ones either. Some have tried to do this just in order to try cope with more huge costs added onto parents. Business companies, now more seeing children’s education as a place to greater mass profit, are creating an additional business monopolies within district schools that parents are unable to challenge – and again, local and national elected know is happening but won’t address this situation either. Well, maybe a rare one will offer a few token words – if you are extremely lucky – then also do little!

There are other issues with the electronic side of things. We shall return to this topic area shortly.

Reality.

More parents are being put in a position to take out loans just to get their kids through primary and secondary school terms. It used to be that parents had to do this far more so, just for third level education. Such is the continuing failures of elected to address a growing problem, parents are been left to suffer year after year at lower education levels too. It is a growing problem in financial numbers and a growing problem in terms of years, left unresolved.

A 2018 survey from the Irish League of Credit Unions has again exposed that there has been a rise in the number of people turning to moneylenders to pay for the likes of books and uniforms. A third of parents will be forced to deny children certain back-to-school items because they can’t afford them. The government says that there has been a drop in overall costs for parents. Again, reality within local towns exposes for many, a different life story.

In general, any decrease has come about due to falls in the prices for extra-curricular activities, transport and after-school care. Many of those already struggling however, cannot even gain access to extra-curricular activities. However, for the government, the PR of costs supposedly lowering overall, is a great vote gathering attempt. Again, when you examine on the ground reality of a situation, it’s not hard to spot flaws in government statements.

Per child, parents of primary-school children on average expect to shell out €1,000 yearly – while the cost for secondary is just short of €1,400 also conservatively. A quarter of parents in debt have turned to moneylenders in struggling effort to handle back-to-school costs. 40% say they cannot not afford new school shoes for their children. Seven in ten say extra-curricular activities have to be cut out from the lives of their children due to lack of money. Children are also then left suffering emotionally as they see their wealthier friends go off and take part in such activities. More parents are increasingly been left feeling guilty for being unable to stop the emotional situation they see their children additional suffering from.

A fifth of those questioned by the Irish League of Credit Unions, said they face no choice but to cut spending on household bills. 15pc said spending on food does have to suffer. The latter is very self-evidence in local reality today. School breakfast clubs – just like town food kitchens – are being created across the country in many schools. Teachers are tired seeing young children come to school half starved and because of this, have little energy to give towards maintaining any attention – which in turn means their ability to learn is weakened from the very beginning of the day. It’s all a domino effect.

Outdated.

Such is the ineffectiveness of elected on the topic of children’s education, they have so far also failed to address the increasing use of expensive electronic equipment or even books for them. The current back to school allowance doen’t take into account at all, the average €400 bill placed on each parent, per child. In fact, a child’s back to school allowance could be entirely used up on that one piece of equipment alone – before even anything else could be though of being tried bought. Elected are in no hurry to address this additional serious growing situation either. The silence from them is again deafening. Parents are left on their own yet again with a more costly problem. More stress for parents, more adult tears shed when the children are not around to see.

Then we have the cost of the actual books for the electronic devices!

More Reality.

Years ago or even now, when you buy a publication, you expect that the price will incorporate costs of materials used (ink, paper, etc.) plus a slice of overhead costs for the establishment selling it (wages for staff, lights, insurance, etc) plus a slice of hansom profit for the company doing all the selling. This was only to be expected. Businesses standard charge what they can most get away with. Many rarely consider lowering their profit margins so that people spend less.

Previously, when any book was in the physical creation process, works and text had to be inserted by many people though many consultations often. Today, using computer desktop publishing software, one person can combine it all in an afternoon or a few days by using graphic pads, keyboard and an electronic mouse. They then save their work to a computer electronic file. This eventual file (a book format – an “e-book”) can then be shared (copied in a second) onward to customers – at a price.

There’s no eventual paper book. On the likes of an iPad, Kindle, or other electronic device, what appears on screen comes from an original created file. This single file can then be copied hundreds, maybe many thousands of times, in an instant and shared. All this can be done by an automatic process or by even one person involved.

See the graphic example below. This is not fiction. This is just two (example) books that had to be ordered in 2018 for an iPad, for a second year student.

The book “Understanding Technical Graphics” had to be electronic created. In short, for this to manifest, a good bit of work had to be done. Skilled relevant technical people along with the book’s graphic designer, had to be involved in the publication process. Once that is done – that’s it. No paper-mills are needed. No buying of paper stock. No need for hiring additional staff to then print it all off on paper through expensive bought machinery. The work saved in an electronic format can then be copied many times in a second of time, 24 hours a day, all year. This too can be done without the use of additional humans. Year after decade, this process can happen.

Buying “Understanding Technical Graphics” then at a cost of €27.80 needs to be examined. What is the total costs involved in the creation of this book? Would those costs be recovered within the first or second month of it going on sale? If it wasn’t, someone seriously is yanking ‘others chains’ as regards production costs! After the initial costs are recovered, as each book is then electronic copied in a fraction of second, the sales figures rocket with every purchase. The profits rise. There is not additional paper need for the book, no extra print staff, no factories needed, etc. Of that €27.80, a far greater proportion of each sale is simply pure profit – and they are getting away with it.

To add insult to costly parent pocket injury, the Irish government wants it’s money-grab moment too. It slaps a whopping 23% tax on many items involved in the basic education of children nationwide. It appear that many are seeing the education of Ireland’s children as a great event to grasp as much cash as they can, from parents pockets. Education is no long operating for education sake. It’s a whopping massive tax and profit opportunity for those that see parents now as consumers – not primarily civilians struggling with already existing costs.

Like their physical paper school books, if the publishers wish to up their profits yet again massively, all they have to do is reword a paragraph, move around a graphic or alter it slightly, etc – all stuff that that can done now by one person in an afternoon. Then the book publishers turn around to parents:

“The old edition is no longer of use. You must buy the new edition!”

(Random info: The Scientology cult – like also many book publishers – worldwide has this racket down to a fine art.)

A Countrywide Uniform Issue.

To their great credit, many schools including the “Educate Together” school establishment growing in Ireland, have recognised that school uniform costs needs to be reduced. More power to them. The country needs more schools like “Educate Together” (LINK).

Sadly, we have to again report that other schools still force absolute crazy prices on parents when it comes to school uniforms. Here too, business monopolies are created at local levels. Parents are told they must have a particular jumper, pants or skirt etc, from one particular shop (or two, if you are lucky), at a price that business can most get away with charging. One school in Louth previously insisted that only one type of (expensive) shoe must be worn by children into school. Once there, they reportedly must change out of these shoes into a particular type of slipper for internal wear, before changing again for home at the end of the day. Their school uniforms never come from the racks of Dunnes Stores, Penny’s or Primark, etc. No. Again, they must come more exclusively from local businesses that appear to have a tight local monopoly over items and imposed parental costs. A cosy monopoly again, most times expensive to parents.

Fees & Voluntary Contributions.

In regards to fees & voluntary contributions, this is another yearly scholastic racket that is still continuing – left again unaddressed properly by elected.

Every year parents across Ireland gain letters or emails asking for voluntary contributions. If they don’t ‘cough-up’ they are repeatedly spammed for such payments or their children are regular called aside in a classroom by an interrupting member of staff, and handed yet another note “…for your parents to read when you get home“.

Payments usually range from €80 right up to €300+ for each student per school year. Despite the ‘voluntary’ wording being used, schools often claim these fees are essential. Some schools regular sent out email ‘Bills’ for such payments. Some additional add “if you cannot pay this, please come and talk to us” – making it all again sound like its compulsory. Many parents are left fearing that if they don’t pay this ‘bill’, would their own children then be treated different by those running the school? Out of possible emotional blackmail, parents then further struggle to pay this additional fee. (News LINK)

The Department of Education is on record stating:

“Voluntary contributions are allowed but that it must be made absolutely clear to parents that it is not compulsory to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.”

“…their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.”

Still many schools are chancing their arms. Many are carefully wording their sent out correspondence to parents, so that they legally they float somewhere between what is legal and what is not. In the end, many parents are pressured to cough-up what they often cannot afford. Parents are told to contact the Department of Education (LINK) regarding this matter – but to date, there is still no public facility on their website to easy report such questionable activity. Why?

This overall fee situation like others wrote about here, has again gone on all too long. (News LINK)

Token words are offered up to media yearly by elected on this issue too. Actions to address the matter quickly then vanish at national and local levels. When was the last time you read in your provincial paper that a local elected person is actually doing something, for local parents, to resolve the area issue? Good luck searching your provincial papers for that issue and seeing someone, beyond PR words spoken, actually resolve it too!

So What Now?

ONE: The 23% government VAT on school books needs to go. If not on all levels, begin removing it from primary and secondary level books.

TWO: A section within the Department of Education needs to be established. This section will be specific tasked in looking after parental financial rights and school issues including books, business monopolies and additional rip-off costs.

THREE: Legislation clear needs to be far stronger and clearer regarding school uniforms. Local and national elected must stop being action-less on this matter.

FOUR: Legislation clear needs to be far stronger and clearer regarding fees & voluntary contributions. It also needs to be enforced more, otherwise all legislation is just another pointless, elected PR vote gathering exercise.

FIVE: The use of iPads and the purchasing of e-books for them, must be examined far closer. The costs involved for parents need to be addressed.

SIX: Elected must stop spouting “free education” for PR purposes – when clearly across Ireland is far from a reality in many growing counties filled also with parents.

SEVEN: The state must again address the absurd interest rates some money lenders are forcing on parents. These are parents also caught in a financial and emotional scholastic trap.

EIGHT: The Department of Education’s own website needs to be better – along with the department itself having better public available facilities.

NINE: Local and national elected must be overall acting all year, every year, for the people in their area as well as nationwide. Some speaking up briefly at an annular regular time like an alarm going off, is not good enough for parents any more. Actions speak louder than PR spouted words. Lets have more of the former and less of the latter.

TEN: Local provincial media, newspapers and radio, needs to be more highlighting these issues – and demanding from local elected that something be more done. In time, ask elected why they have not still got around to doing anything or giving little effort on this issue! In other words, seek on behalf of their listeners, greater accountability. A core aim of UnitedPeople.